Functionality of Braille Access

By Tim Hornik, 28 July, 2025

Forum

Apple Beta Releases

Just wondering what are folks noticing as they try to use Braille Access? Presently I am only able to launch the Braille Access app selector, navigate through the folders, but not actually interact with the apps. For example I have loaded several BRF into the iCloud folder, and am able to navigate to them but not actually open them on my display. For Notes and Calculator, I am only able to access the top layer of menu options, but not actually interact with either. For Live Caption, this is more of a mystery as it seems like I am able to enter it, just no actual captioning is occurring, which I have experienced when using the main Live Caption in the Accessibility settings.

The iOS 26 Public Beta is being ran on an iPhone 15 Pro. I am suspecting that Apple is still in the works with display manufacturers to update the functionality of Braille Access with the different devices more than anything else, and hoping it works itself out over time.

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Comments

Live caption will listen to…

Live caption will listen to your microphone, so you or people around speaking, and if it's in a supported language it will transcribe real time and show in braille, and you can use the usual panning buttons to read through. From a deafblind pov, this is the most well executed feature from apple in braille I've ever seen imo.

live Captions not functioning for me

When I launch Live Captions under Braille Access, I'm told it's not available in my region. After pressing dot 8, I'm able to use the text to speech function, but no captions for me. Running the latest beta with an iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Any changes for Mantis users?

Hi, would love to test but don't have 2nd device and too busy for much testing anyway. But would love to hear more about how Braille access is working or supposed to work. Any changes for Mantis users? There are many commands that one currently has no access to in iOS 18 because Mantis does not have braille input keys to cord these commands. I did suggest they allow assigning braille commands to qwerty keyboard shortcuts. Anyway, hoping the whole braille access is as good as it sounds in their promo.

Braille Access Using The Mantis

I am having no problems with the Mantis in the latest developer beta. Braille Access is working as it should. I used to have problems saving Braille notes, but that is working now. I can also read BRF files on the Mantis that are stored in the BRF folder on the phone. Live captions are also working as they should. I have not tested all features of Braille Access, but everything I've tried to do is working as it should. You might want to assign a keystroke to toggle Braille Input, this allows you to use the Braille input mode on the Mantis.